Summary translation

The investigations especially concentrate on the aspect of quality conservation of ecological products in the post harvest period during the value adding chain. The estimated losses are about 1/3 of the crops. They can mostly be attributed to dis-organized, uncontrolled and therefore less product specific handling by the participants. By the mean of qualitative interviews, typical chains in Germany and additionally in Switzerland and the Netherlands were investigated regarding to the activities of quality conservation. As special weak points could be identified the different views of quality of the participants, unsufficient technical ressources, less coordinated working process and the insufficient demand of the consumer. Solutions result from an increasing intensive communication and agreement of all participants, qualified employees on all steps, a common orientation of the working process on the need of a living, metabolizing product and the protection of a closed cool chain. Considered to be necessary are the efforts to improve the demand of the consumer. In Switzerland the success is based on the clear position and the engagement of the food retail trade and on structures which make a stable balance of power of the participants and therefore a constructive dialogue possible. As special advantages of the structures in the Netherlands are to be considered the traditional professional production and the general effort of meeting and dialogue.